Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education : Hyderabad

Foundation Courses under CBCS; Revised Syllabi

For All Degree Programmes
w.e.f. 2015-16 (Revised in May 2016)

As a part of curriculum upgradation, Semester and CBCS systems were introduced in

all affiliated colleges in Andhra Pradesh from 2015-16. As an effective part of the
overall curriculum, Foundation Courses were introduced with an aim to prepare students
in the required basic skills and values in diverse areas. Hence, courses covering a broad
spectrum were introduced. The following are the revised syllabi of the ten Foundation
Courses, each with 30 teaching hours per semester and worth 2 credits. They were spread
in the first four semesters.
Sno Foundation Course Sem Hrs/ Total Credits Marks
Week Hrs
1 Human Values and Professional Ethics I 2 30 2 50
2 Environmental Studies I 2 30 2 50
3 Information and Communication II 2 30 2 50
Technology (ICT) – 1
4 Communication and Soft Skills (CSS)-1 II 2 30 2 50
5 Information and Communication III 2 30 2 50
Technology (ICT) – 2
6 Communication and Soft Skills (CSS)-2 III 2 30 2 50
7 Communication and Soft Skills (CSS)-3 IV 2 30 2 50
8 Analytical Skills IV 2 30 2 50
9 Entrepreneurship IV 2 30 2 50
10 Leadership Education IV 2 30 2 50

The objective of the foundation courses is to create awareness among students

and train them in the skills of the course concerned. Hence, teaching learning may be
focused, and limited to the hours prescribed.
 Foundation Course – 1

I. HUMAN VALUES AND PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

Common for BA/BCom/BSc/BBA/BCA Programmes

I Semester (Total 30 Hrs)

Unit-I : Introduction to Value Education

1. Value Education, Definition, Concept and Need for Value Education

2. The Content and Process of Value Education
3. Self-Exploration as a means of Value Education
4. Happiness and Prosperity as parts of Value Education

Unit-II : Harmony in the Human Being

1. Human Being is more than just the Body

2. Harmony of the Self (‘I’) with the Body
3. Understanding Myself as Co-existence of the Self and the Body
4. Understanding Needs of the Self and the Needs of the Body

Unit-III : Harmony in the Family and Society and Harmony in the Nature

1. Family as a basic unit of Human Interaction and Values in Relationships

2. The Basics for respect and today’s Crisis : Affection, Care, Guidance, Reverence,
Glory, Gratitude and Love
3. Comprehensive Human Goal : The Five dimensions of Human Endeavour

Unit-IV : Social Ethics

1. The Basics for Ethical Human conduct

2. Defects in Ethical Human Conduct
3. Holistic Alternative and Universal order
4. Universal Human Order and Ethical Conduct

Unit-V : Professional Ethics

1. Value Based Life and Profession

2. Professional Ethics and Right Understanding
3. Competence in Professional Ethics
 4. Issues in Professional Ethics – The Current scenario
5. Vision for Holistic Technologies, Production System and Management Models

Reference Books :

1. A.N.Tripaty, Human Values, New Age International Publishers, 2003

2. Bajpai.B.L., Indian Ethos and Modern Management, New Royal Book Co.,
Lucknow, Reprinted, 2004
3. Bertrand Russell, Human Society in Ethics and Politics
4. Corliss Lamont, Philosophy of Humanism
5. Gaur.R.R., Sangal.R, Bagaria.G.P., A Foundation Course in Value Education,
Excel Books, 2009
6. Gaur.R.R., Sangal.R, Bagaria.G.P., Teacher’s Manual, Excel Books, 2009
7. I.C.Sharma, Ethical Philosophy of India, Nagin & Co., Julundhar
8. Mortimer.J.Adler, What Man has Made of Man
9. R.Subramanian, Professional Ethics, Oxford University Press
10. Text Book for Intermediate Ethics and Human Values, Board of Intermediate
Education & Telugu Academy, Hyderabad
11. William Lilly, Introduction to Ethics, Allied Publishers

Foundation Course – 2

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
Common for BA/BCom/BSc/BBA/BCA Programmes

Semester – I (Total 30 Hours)

Unit-I : Natural Resources: 6 Hrs

Definition, scope and importance. Need for public awareness.

Brief description of;
Forest recourses: Use and over-exploitation. Deforestation; timber extraction,
mining, dams. Effect of deforestation environment and tribal people
Water resources: Use and over–utilization. Effects of over utilisation of surface
and ground water. Floods, drought.
Mineral resources: Use and exploitation, environmental effects of
extracting and using mineral resources.
 Food resources: World food problems, Effects of modern agriculture; fertilizer-
pesticide, salinity problems.
Energy resources: Growing energy needs, renewable and non-renewable
energy sources, use of alternate energy sources.
Land resources: Land as resources, land degradation, man induced
landslides, soil erosion and desertification

Unit-II : Ecosystems, Biodiversity and its conservation 6 Hrs

Concept of an ecosystem
Structure and function of an ecosystem
Producers, consumers and decomposers
Food chains, food webs and ecological pyramids
Characteristic features of the following ecosystems:-
Forest ecosystem, Desert ecosystem, Aquatic ecosystem.
Value of biodiversity: Consumptive use, productive use. Biodiversity in India.
Threats to biodiversity: habitat loss, poaching of wildlife, man wildlife
conflicts.
Endangered and endemic species of India
Conservation of biodiversity

Unit-III : Environmental Pollution 6 Hrs

Definition
Causes, effects and control measures of :-
a. Air pollution
b. Water pollution
c. Soil pollution
d. Noise pollution
Solid waste management; Measures for safe urban and industrial waste
disposal
Role of individual in prevention of pollution
Disaster management: Drought, floods and cyclones

Unit-IV : Social Issues and the Environment 6 Hrs

From Unsustainable to Sustainable development
Water conservation, rain water harvesting, watershed management.
Climate change, global warming, ozone layer depletion,
Environment protection Act
Wildlife Protection Act, Forest Conservation Act

Unit-V : Human Population and the Environment 6 Hrs

Population explosion, impact on environment.
Family welfare Programme
Environment and human health
 Women and Child Welfare
Value Education
Role of Information Technology in Environment and humanhealth.

Reference Books :
1. Environmental Studies by Dr.M.Satyanarayana,
Dr.M.V.R.K.Narasimhacharyulu, Dr.G. Rambabu and Dr.V.VivekaVardhani,
Published by Telugu Academy, Hyderabad.
2. Environmental Studies by R.C.Sharma, Gurbir Sangha, published by Kalyani
Publishers.
3. Environmental Studies by Purnima Smarath, published by Kalyani Publishers.

Foundation Course – 3

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY –1 (ICT-1)

Computer Fundamentals and Office Tools
Common for all DegreeProgrammes

II Semester
(30 Hours of Teaching Learning including Lab)

Unit-I:
Basics of Computers :Definition of a Computer - Characteristics and Applications of
Computers – Block Diagram of a Digital Computer – Classification of Computers
based on size and working – Central Processing Unit – I/O Devices.

Unit-II:
Primary, Auxiliary and Cache Memory – Memory Devices. Software, Hardware,
Firmware and People ware – Definition and Types of Operating System –
Functions of an Operating System – MS-DOS – MS Windows – Desktop,
Computer, Documents, Pictures, Music, Videos, Recycle Bin, Task Bar – Control
Pane.

Unit-III:
MS-Word
Features of MS-Word – MS-Word Window Components – Creating, Editing,
Formatting and
Printing of Documents – Headers and Footers – Insert/Draw Tables, Table Auto
format –
Page Borders and Shading – Inserting Symbols, Shapes, Word Art, Page Numbers,
Equations – Spelling and Grammar – Thesaurus – Mail Merge

Unit-IV:
MS-PowerPoint
Features of PowerPoint – Creating a Blank Presentation - Creating a Presentation
using a
Template - Inserting and Deleting Slides in a Presentation – Adding Clip Art/Pictures -
Inserting Other Objects, Audio, Video - Resizing and Scaling of an Object – Slide
Transition – Custom Animation

Unit-V:
MS-Excel
Overview of Excel features – Creating a new worksheet, Selecting cells, Entering and
editing Text, Numbers, Formulae, Referencing cells – Inserting Rows/Columns –
Changing column widths and row heights, auto format, changing font sizes, colors,
shading.

Reference Books:
1. Fundamentals of Computers by ReemaThareja, Publishers : Oxford University
Press,
India
2.Fundamentals of Computers by V.Raja Raman, Publishers : PHI
3. Microsoft Office 2010 Bible by John Walkenbach, Herb Tyson, Michael R.Groh and
FaitheWempen, Publishers : Wiley

Foundation Course - 5

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY –2 (ICT-2)

Internet Fundamentals and Web Tools
Common for BA / BCom / B Sc / BBA Programmes

III Semester
(30 Hours of Teaching Learning including Lab)

Unit-I :
Fundamentals of Internet : Networking Concepts, Data Communication – Types of
Networking, Internet and its Services, Internet Addressing – Internet Applications –
Computer Viruses and its types – Browser –Types of Browsers.

Unit-II:
Internet applications: Using Internet Explorer, Standard Internet Explorer Buttons,
Entering a Web Site Address, Searching the Internet – Introduction to Social
Networking: twitter, tumblr, Linkedin, facebook, flickr, skype, yelp, vimeo, yahoo!,
google+, youtube,
WhatsApp, etc.
 Unit-III :
E-mail :Definition of E-mail - Advantages and Disadvantages – UserIds, Passwords,
Email Addresses, Domain Names, Mailers, Message Components, Message
Composition, Mail Management,Email Inner Workings.

Unit IV:
WWW- Web Applications, Web Terminologies, Web Browsers,URL – Components of
URL, Searching WWW – Search Engines and Examples

Unit-III :
Basic HTML: Basic HTML – Web Terminology – Structure of a HTML Document –
HTML, Head and Body tags – Semantic and Syntactic Tags – HR, Heading, Font,
Image and Anchor Tags –Different types of Lists using tags – Table Tags, Image
formats – Creation of simple HTML Documents.

Reference Books :

1. In-line/On-line : Fundamentals of the Internet and the World Wide Web, 2/e - by
Raymond Greenlaw and Ellen Hepp, Publishers : TMH

Foundation courses 4, 6 & 7

COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND SOFT SKILLS

(Three papers spread over three Semesters)
(Each Paper: Total 30 hours of Teaching Learning)

The course helps the student hone their four skills – listening, speaking, reading,
and writing – and also initiates them into the fifth skill, "thinking," in English. The
learner-friendly material and the task-based activities enhance their communicative
competence. The course focuses on all the four areas of knowledge and skill that
constitute Communicative Competence: Linguistic/Grammatical Competence,
Sociolinguistic Competence, Discourse Competence, and Strategic Competence. It also
aims at equipping the student with a wide range of sub-skills: understanding gist in
listening; skimming and scanning in reading; pronunciation andintonation, fluency,
accuracy, and appropriacy in speaking; and organizational and editing skills in writing. In
addition, the course helps the student acquire knowledge of soft skills. Thus the three-
semester course helps the learner in their personal life as well as their professional life.
The efficacy of the course largely depends on continuous and consistent practice by the
students in and outside the classroom. Therefore, the designed content and the modules
thereof provide ample scope for activity based learning. The teacher shall ensure the
conduct of activity in the classroom meticulously as per the syllabus.

Foundation Course - 4

COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND SOFT SKILLS-1 (CSS -1)

COURSE CONTENT(30 hours)

Vocabulary is considered the key to communication and it plays a great role for learners
in acquiring a language. The first unit, therefore, is on the different aspects of
vocabulary.Since English is a predicate-oriented language, there are two units on
grammar focusing on the verb phrase.Listening and speaking are the two receptive skills.
Listening is the basic skill of communication, and reading helps a person refine their
writing skills. Unit IV and Unit V are on listening and reading respectively.

Unit I: Vocabulary Building

1a. Prefixes and Suffixes
1b. Conversion
1c. Compounding
1d. Analogy
2. One-Word Substitutes
3. Words Often Confused
4. Synonyms and Antonyms
5. Phrasal Verbs

Unit II: Grammar - 1

1. Types of Verbs
2. Subject-Verb Agreement

Unit III: Grammar - 2

1. Meanings of Modals
2. Tense (Present and Past) and Aspect
3. The Several Possibilities for Denoting Future Time
4. Articles and Prepositions

Unit IV: Listening Skills

1. The Importance of Listening
2. Types of Listening
3. Barriers/Obstacles to Effective Listening
4. Strategies for Effective Listening

Unit V: Reading Skills

1. Skimming
2. Scanning
3. Intensive Reading and Extensive Reading
4. Comprehension

Foundation Course - 6
COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND SOFT SKILLS-2 (CSS -2)

COURSE CONTENT(30 hours)

CSS 02 aims at improving the speaking skills of the learner. For many learners of
English, the sound-spelling relationship of the language appearsanarchic. Another
problem many Indian learners face is English word accent. Unit I and Unit II help
learners overcome these problems to a great extent. The remaining units are on the two
productive skills, speaking and writing. The techniques of day-to-day conversations and
the important characteristics of interviews and GDs presented in this course strengthen
the learner's speaking skills. The last unit presents various aspects of presentation in
writing.

Unit I: Pronunciation - 1
The Sounds of English

Unit II: Pronunciation – 2

1. Word Accent
2. Intonation

Unit III: Speaking Skills -1

1. Conversation Skills
2. Interview Skills
3. Presentation Skills
4. Public Speaking

Unit IV: Speaking Skills -2

1. Role Play
2. Debate
3. Group Discussion

Unit V: Writing Skills

1. Spelling
2. Punctuation
3. Information Transfer
o Tables
o Bar Diagrams
o Line Graphs
o Pie Diagrams
o Flow Charts
o Tree Diagrams
o Pictures

Foundation Course -7
COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND SOFT SKILLS-3 (CSS -3)

COURSE CONTENT(30 hours)

A current axiom is that hard skills will get a person an interview, but soft skills will get
that person the job. Unit I of the course is on soft skills, which are absolutely necessary in
the global job market. Writing is considered the most difficult of all the skills. Units II to
V help the learner improve their writing skills, especially academic/formal writing.

Unit I: Soft Skills

1. Positive Attitude
2. Body Language
3. SWOT/SWOC Analysis
4. Emotional Intelligence
5. Netiquette

Unit II: Paragraph Writing

1. Paragraph Structure
2. Development of Ideas

Unit III: Paraphrasing and Summarizing

1. Elements of Effective Paraphrasing
2. Techniques for Paraphrasing
3. What Makes a Good Summary?
 4. Stages of Summarizing
Unit IV: Letter Writing
1. Letter Writing (Formal and Informal)
2. E-correspondence
Unit V:
1. Resume and CV
2. Cover Letter

SEMESTER-END EXAMINATION
Pattern of the Question Paper for CSS 01

Time: 2 Hours Maximum Marks: 50

Part - A

1. Comprehension - 5 Marks(Five Multiple Choice Questions)

Part - B

2. Objective Type Questions - 20 Marks (Twenty Multiple Choice Questions)

Part - C

3. One Word Answers - 10 Marks (Ten Questions)

Part - D

4. One Sentence Answers - 10 Marks (Five Questions)

Part - E

5. Matching - 5 Marks (5=6)

Reference Books:
Commissionerate of Collegiate Education, Government of Andhra Pradesh (2015)
JKC -Communication Skills and Soft Skills: Student's Book
Sethi, J., and P.V. Dhamija (1999) A Course in Phonetics and Spoken English
New Delhi: Prentice-Hall of India
Daniel Jones (2011)English Pronouncing Dictionary (18th Edition) Ed. Peter Roach, Jane
Setter, and John Esling

Quirk, Randolph and Sydney Greenbaum (1973) A University Grammar of English.

Harlow: Longman. Chapters 2, 3, and 7

White, Goodith (2010) Listening (Resource Book for Teachers). Oxford University
Press

Nageshwar Rao and Rajendra P. Das (2009) Communication Skills. Mumbai: Himalaya
Publishing House

Burton, S.H. (1983) Mastering English Language. The Macmillan Press Limited
Chapter 3: Comprehension

Grellet, Francoise (2007) Developing Reading Skills. Cambridge University Press

Roberts, Rachael, Joanne Gakonga, and Andrew Preshous (2004) IELTS Foundation:
Student’s Book. Oxford: Macmillan Education

Roberts, Rachael, Joanne Gakonga, and Andrew Preshous (2004) IELTS Foundation:
Study Skills. Oxford: Macmillan Education
 Foundation Course - 8
ANALYTICAL SKILLS
Syllabus, Forall Degree Programmes.
w.e.f. 2015-16 (Revised in April, 2016)
Semester – IV (Total 30 Hrs)

UNIT – 1
Data Analysis:-The data given in a Table, Graph, Bar Diagram, Pie Chart, Venn diagram or a
passage is to be analyzed and the questions pertaining to the data are to be answered.
UNIT – 2
Sequence and Series:- Analogies of numbers and alphabets completion of blank spaces
following the pattern in A:b::C: d relationship odd thing out; Missing number in a sequence
or a series.
UNIT - 3
Arithmetic ability:-Algebraic operations BODMAS, Fractions, Divisibility rules, LCM&GCD
(HCF).
Date, Time and Arrangement Problems: Calendar Problems, Clock Problems, Blood
Relationship.
UNIT - 4
Quantitative aptitude:- Averages, Ration and proportion, Problems on ages, Time-distance –
speed.
UNIT – 5
Business computations:- Percentages, Profit &loss, Partnership, simple compound interest.

Reference Books:
1. Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examination by R S Agrawal, S.Chand
publications.
2. Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning by R V Praveen, PHI publishers.
3. Quantitative Aptitude : Numerical Ability (Fully Solved) Objective Questions, Kiran
Prakashan, Pratogitaprakasan, Kic X, Kiran Prakasan publishers
4. Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examination by Abhijit Guha, Tata Mc Graw hill
publications.
5. Old question Paper of the exams conducted by (Wipro, TCS, Infosys, Etc) at their
recruitment process, source-Internet.
 Note: The teachers/students are expected to teach /learn the contents by not converting them
to the problems of algebra at the maximum possible extent, but to use analytical thinking to
solve the exercises related to those topics. This is the main aim of the course.

Foundation Course - 9

ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Syllabus, Forall Degree Programmes.
w.e.f. 2015-16 (Revised in April, 2016)

Semester – IV (Total 30 Hrs)

Unit-I: Entrepreneurship: Entrepreneur characteristics – Classification of
Entrepreneurships – Incorporation of Business – Forms of Business
organizations –Role of Entrepreneurship in economic development –
Start-ups.

Unit-II: Idea Generation and Opportunity Assessment: Ideas in

Entrepreneurships – Sources of New Ideas – Techniques for generating
ideas – Opportunity Recognition – Steps in tapping opportunities.

Unit-III: Project Formulation and Appraisal : Preparation of Project

Report –Content; Guidelines for Report preparation – Project Appraisal
techniques –economic – Steps Analysis; Financial Analysis; Market
Analysis; Technical Feasibility.

Unit-iv: Institutions Supporting Small Business Enterprises: Central

level Institutions: NABARD; SIDBI, NIC, KVIC; SIDIO; NSIC Ltd; etc. –
state level Institutions –DICs- SFC- SSIDC- Other financial assistance.

Unit-V: Government Policy and Taxation Benefits: Government Policy

for SSIs- tax Incentives and Concessions –Non-tax Concessions –
Rehabilitation and Investment Allowances.

Reference Books:

1. Arya Kumar, Entrepreneurship, Pearson, Delhi, 2012.

2. Poornima M.CH., Entrepreneurship Development –Small Business

Enterprises, Pearson, Delhi,2009
3. Michael H. Morris, ET. al., Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Cen gage
Learning, New Delhi, 2011

4. KanishkaBedi, Management and Entrepreneurship, Oxford University

Press, Delhi, 2009

5. Anil Kumar, S., ET.al., Entrepreneurship Development, New Age

International Publishers, New Delhi, 2011

6. Khanka, SS, Entrepreneurship Development, S. Chand, New Delhi.

7. Peter F. Drucker,Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

8. A.Sahay, M. S. Chhikara, New Vistas of Entrepreneurship: Challenges
&Opportunities.

Foundation Course - 10

LEADERSHIP EDUCATION
Syllabus, Forall Degree Programmes.
w.e.f. 2015-16 (Revised in April, 2016)

Semester – IV (Total 30 Hrs)

1. Organisation – Management – Leadership –Meaning and Significance –
Different theories – Trait Theory, Blake &Mountan Theory – Other
functions of Management.
2. Behavioral Concepts – Individual Behaviour – Perception – Learning –
Attitude Formation and Change – Motivation – Theories of Motivation –
Personality Development.
3. Interpersonal Behaviour – Communication – Leadership – Influencing
Relations – Transactional Analysis.
4. Group Dynamics – Roles – Morale – Conflict – Groups – Inter-Group
Behaviour – Inter-Group Collaboration and Conflict Management.
5. Team Building and Management – Developing team resources –
Designing team – Participation and Repercussion – Team building
activities.
Reference Books:

1. Fred Luthans, “Organizational Behaviour”, Tata McGraw Hill Publishing

Co., New Delhi.
2. Robins, Stephen P, “OrganisationalBehaviour”, 9th Edition, Prentice Hall
of India, New Delhi.
3. Koontz and O “Donnell”, Essentials of Management,Tata McGraw Hill
Publishing Co., New Delhi, 2000.
4. Keith Davis, “Human Behaviour at Work”, Tata McGraw Hill Publishing
Co., New Delhi.
5. Aswathappa,”OrgnizationalBehaviour”, Himalaya Publishing House,
Mumbai
6. Stoner Freeman, “Management”, Prentice Hall of India, New Delhi.